Publications
This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 42768
Drivers of landscape change in the northwest boreal region Drivers of landscape change in the northwest boreal region
The northwest boreal region (NWB) of North America is a land of extremes. Extending more than 1.3 million square kilometers (330 million acres), it encompasses the entire spectrum between inundated wetlands below sea level to the tallest peak in North America. Permafrost gradients span from nearly continuous to absent. Boreal ecosystems are inherently dynamic and continually change over...
Social status, forest disturbance, and Barred Owls shape long-term trends in breeding dispersal distance of Northern Spotted Owls Social status, forest disturbance, and Barred Owls shape long-term trends in breeding dispersal distance of Northern Spotted Owls
Dispersal among breeding sites in territorial animals (i.e. breeding dispersal) is driven by numerous selection pressures, including competition and spatiotemporal variation in habitat quality. The scale and trend of dispersal movements over time may signal changing conditions within the population or on the landscape. We examined 2,158 breeding dispersal events from 694 male and 608...
Authors
Julianna M. A. Jenkins, Damon B. Lesmeister, Eric D. Forsman, Steven H. Ackers, Katie Dugger, L. Steven Andrews, Chris E. McCafferty, M. Shane Pruett, Janice A. Reid, Stan G. Sovern, Rob B. Horn, Scott A. Gremel, David Wiens, Zhiqiang Yang
An overview of bioaerosol load and health impacts associated with dust storms: A focus on the Middle East An overview of bioaerosol load and health impacts associated with dust storms: A focus on the Middle East
Dust storms are an important environmental problem worldwide. The main sources of dust storms include the Sahara, the Middle East, and central and northeastern Asia. Dust storms originating from these regions can be dispersed across oceans and in some cases globally. They occur throughout the year and vary in frequency and intensity. The biological agents (e.g., fungi, bacteria and...
Authors
Zahra Soleimani, Pari Teymouri, Ali Darvishi Boloorani, Alireza Mesdaghinia, Nick Middleton, Dale W. Griffin
A shrubbier future: Forest transformation in the eastern Jemez Mountains A shrubbier future: Forest transformation in the eastern Jemez Mountains
No abstract available.
Authors
Craig D. Allen
Conservation decisions under pressure: Lessons from an exercise in rapid response to wildlife disease Conservation decisions under pressure: Lessons from an exercise in rapid response to wildlife disease
Novel outbreaks of emerging pathogens require rapid responses to enable successful mitigation. We simulated a 1‐day emergency meeting where experts were engaged to recommend mitigation strategies for a new outbreak of the amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans . Despite the inevitable uncertainty, experts suggested and discussed several possible strategies. However...
Authors
Stefano Canessa, Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Tariq Stark, Bryony E. Allen, Phillip J. Bishop, Molly Bletz, Cheryl J. Briggs, Dave Daversa, Matthew J. Gray, Richard Griffiths, Reid N. Harris, Xavier Harrison, Jason T. Hoverman, Phillip Jervis, Erin L. Muths, Deanna H. Olson, Stephen J Price, Corinne L. Richards-Zawacki, Jacques Robert, Goncalo M. Rosa, Ben C. Scheele, B. Schmidt, Trenton W. J. Garner
Coldwater periods in warmwater streams: Microhabitat shifts from autumn to winter by Smallmouth Bass Coldwater periods in warmwater streams: Microhabitat shifts from autumn to winter by Smallmouth Bass
Seasonal and life stage variation in microhabitat use is an important driver of fish survival and bioenergetics, but knowledge of microhabitat selection during colder periods is generally lacking in warmwater streams. Our objective was to examine changes in microhabitat selection by age‐0 (TL ≤ 85 mm) and age‐1+ (TL > 85 mm) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu from autumn to winter in...
Authors
S. L. Wolf, Robert Mollenhauer, Shannon K. Brewer
Mathematical ecologists describe apparently long-stable dynamics that undergo sudden change to a different regime: Comment on “Long transients in ecology: theory and applications by Andrew Morozov et al.” Mathematical ecologists describe apparently long-stable dynamics that undergo sudden change to a different regime: Comment on “Long transients in ecology: theory and applications by Andrew Morozov et al.”
No abstract available.
Authors
Donald L. DeAngelis
Weed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe Weed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe
Approaches and techniques for control of exotic annual grasses are a high priority in rangelands including sagebrush steppe. Strains of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens have been proposed to be selectively pathogenic to multiple species of exotic annual grasses (“Pf,” weed-suppressive bacteria, “WSB”). However, defensible tests of the target and nontarget effects of these WSB...
Authors
Matthew Germino, Brynne E. Lazarus
Parasitic nematodes of marine fishes from Palmyra Atoll, East Indo-Pacific, including a new species of Spinitectus (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae) Parasitic nematodes of marine fishes from Palmyra Atoll, East Indo-Pacific, including a new species of Spinitectus (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae)
Here, we present the results of a taxonomic survey of the nematodes parasitizing fishes from the lagoon flats of Palmyra Atoll, Eastern Indo-Pacific. We performed quantitative parasitological surveys of 653 individual fish from each of the 44 species using the intertidal sand flats that border the atoll’s lagoon. We provide morphological descriptions, prevalence, and mean intensities of...
Authors
David Gonzalez-Solis, Lilia Catherinne Soler-Jimenez, M Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo, John P. McLaughlin, Jenny C. Shaw, Anna K James, Ryan F. Hechinger, Armand M. Kuris, Kevin D. Lafferty, Victor Manuel Vidal-Martinez
Watershed geomorphology modifies the sensitivity of aquatic ecosystem metabolism to temperature Watershed geomorphology modifies the sensitivity of aquatic ecosystem metabolism to temperature
How carbon cycles are regulated by environmental temperature remains a substantial uncertainty in our understanding of how watersheds will respond to ongoing climate change. Aquatic ecosystems are important components of carbon flux to the atmosphere and ocean, yet we have limited understanding of how temperature modifies ecosystem metabolic processes and, therefore, aquatic...
Authors
Kathi Jo Jankowski, Daniel E. Schindler
Development of a genotyping protocol for Mojave desert tortoise scat Development of a genotyping protocol for Mojave desert tortoise scat
Noninvasive fecal genotyping can be a useful tool for population monitoring of elusive species. We tested extraction protocols on scat samples from the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, to evaluate whether scat-based mark–recapture and population genetic monitoring studies are feasible.We extracted DNA from G. agassizii scat samples collected in California and Nevada...
Authors
Anna Mitelberg, Amy G. Vandergast, Ken E Nussear, Kirsten E. Dutcher, Todd C. Esque
Spatially explicit models of seasonal habitat for greater sage‐grouse at broad spatial scales: Informing areas for management in Nevada and northeastern California Spatially explicit models of seasonal habitat for greater sage‐grouse at broad spatial scales: Informing areas for management in Nevada and northeastern California
Defining boundaries of species' habitat across broad spatial scales is often necessary for management decisions, and yet challenging for species that demonstrate differential variation in seasonal habitat use. Spatially explicit indices that incorporate temporal shifts in selection can help overcome such challenges, especially for species of high conservation concern. Greater sage‐grouse
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Brianne E. Brussee, Mark A. Ricca, John Severson, Michael L. Casazza, K. Benjamin Gustafson, Shawn P. Espinosa, Scott C. Gardner, David J Delahunty